Zheng Shuqi and Xu Cunzhong did not even return to the garrison camp and fled all the way back to Lingqiu County.
"Close the city gate, close the city gate."
As soon as he entered the city gate, Zheng Shuqi immediately ordered the soldiers guarding the city gate to close the city gate.
Although these soldiers still didn't know what was going on, they all knew that Zheng Shuqi was guarding Lingqiu and did not dare to disobey orders.
With the efforts of several soldiers, the city gate slowly closed.
Seeing this, Zheng Shuqi breathed a sigh of relief.
Xu Cunzhong, who followed Zheng Shuqi into the city, said with an ugly face: "Zheng Shoubei, you just closed the city gate like this. What will happen to the soldiers from the garrison camp who escaped?"
Anyone who is not stupid knows that they cannot stay outside the city and it is safest to escape into the city.
"Don't mention that group of wine and rice sacks. They are a total embarrassment to the court." Zheng Shuqi said with an annoyed look.
The garrison camp was beyond his expectation useless. They didn't even fight. They were frightened and fled after a few cannon shots. This was the most useless imperial army he had ever seen. Even the bandits on the mountain were frightened. Not as good as.
Xu Cunzhong opened his mouth to argue, but in the end he said nothing.
The incompetence of the defense camp was beyond his expectation.
Back then, the garrison camp fought against the soldiers and horses of the Tiger Flag at the Dongshan Iron Field. However, a few years later, they no longer had the courage to fight.
Zheng Shuqi looked at Xu Cunzhong and said: "Xu Qianhu, let's think about how to defend the city next! The tiger-character flag has caused such a big commotion, and we will never give up easily."
With the defeat of the Lingqiu garrison, Lingqiu no longer had any power to stop the Tiger Flag from capturing the county seat.
Xu Cunzhong raised his eyebrows and asked, "Did Zheng Shoubei say that the Tiger Character Banner will come to attack the county?"
"Isn't it normal for a group of rebels to attack the county?" Zheng Shuqi said.
The two sides were already at odds, and he didn't think Huziqi would let go of such a good opportunity to capture Lingqiu County.
After all, any group of rebels who have the ability to capture the county will not let go of such an opportunity.
Xu Cunzhong frowned and said: "The Tiger Character Banner has been in Lingqiu for many years and has never attacked Lingqiu County. Even before Liu Heng was recruited, he only had a few battles with the border troops and never touched Lingqiu County. .”
"Can you guarantee that the Tiger Character Banner will not attack Lingqiu County?" Zheng Shuqi asked back, but before waiting for a reply, he continued, "As a defender of Lingqiu, I do not care whether the Tiger Character Banner will attack the county seat. I have to take precautions before they happen."
Xu Cunzhong nodded in agreement.
After all, he couldn't guarantee whether the Tiger-Charactered Banner would suddenly attack Lingqiu County. After all, the troops guarding the camp had just been defeated, and the court was always on guard against the Tiger-Charactered Banner.
"I still need to trouble Xu Qianhu about something." Zheng Shuqi said to Xu Cunzhong, "I would like to trouble Xu Qianhu to go to the county government and bring all three squads of county government officials to my command."
Xu Cunzhong, who heard this, looked puzzled and said: "This matter requires the consent of County Magistrate Guo, and Zheng Shoubei went to tell Magistrate Guo that it is more suitable than Xiaguan, a thousand households."
Zheng Shuqi just looked at him without speaking.
"I'll go there right away." Xu Cunzhong agreed.
Because he knew that Zheng Shuqi was worried about leaving him alone to defend the city, and was worried that he would send soldiers and horses with the Tiger Flag into the city without permission.
"Xu Qianhu, go back quickly, the soldiers and horses of the Tiger Flag may come at any time." Zheng Shuqi reminded.
Xu Cunzhong cupped his hands and turned to leave.
He asked his servants to follow him to the county government office.
As soon as they left, a soldier beside Zheng Shuqi said: "General, Lingqiu County may not be able to be defended. General, please make plans in advance."
People like them know very well what is going on in Lingqiu County.
The city wall has been in disrepair for a long time, with weeds growing all over it, and more than one place has collapsed. Moreover, the Tiger Flag has cannons, and Lingqiu's city wall cannot withstand a few cannons.
"Go to Datong Fucheng immediately and tell General Yang about the situation in Lingqiu. Just say..." Zheng Shuqi hesitated for a moment and then said, "Just say that the Tiger Character Banner has rebelled and is attacking Lingqiu County."
As a guard of Lingqiu, it was difficult for him to abandon the city and flee.
"My subordinates will rush to Datong Mansion immediately." The soldier saluted and turned to leave.
Although the city gate has been closed, there are many ways to get out of the city, and only one city gate is closed, and there are other gates for entry and exit.
Zheng Shuqi led the remaining people onto the city wall.
As the garrison camp headed to Dongshan, the Lingqiu County Government Office was already in a state of turmoil.
If Tiger-Character Banner was really that easy to deal with, official documents from the county government would not even be able to leave the county seat, and everything outside the city would fall into Tiger-Character Banner's hands.
Even the taxes collected every year are handed over to the county government through the hands of the Tiger Flag, instead of people from the government going to each village to collect them door to door.
As a result, the government officials did not dare to use the methods of gaining benefits in the past on the Tiger Flag, and could only honestly collect the part of the money and grain that should be paid.
"Is Magistrate Guo at the county government office?" Xu Cunzhong came to the county government office and asked on horseback a government servant who had just walked out of the government office.
The yamen servant hurriedly stepped forward to salute and said respectfully, "I have seen Xu Qianhu."
"Stop talking nonsense, is Magistrate Guo in there?" Xu Cunzhong had no time to argue with the government officials and asked Guo Binchang again.
The yamen servant said: "The eldest man is in the back yamen."
This yamen servant was also good at observing people's emotions. When he saw Xu Cunzhong's expression was not good, he did not dare to suggest that he take him to the yamen.
When Xu Cunzhong heard that Guo Binchang was in the Yamen, he jumped off his horse and walked quickly to the Yamen.
Except for one servant who was taking care of the horses outside the yamen, the other servants followed him into the yamen.
Xu Cunzhong had been an official in the Lingqiu garrison camp for many years, and almost everyone in the yamen knew him.
Along the way, the officers at the Yamen Gate saluted one after another.
However, Xu Cunzhong, who had something on his mind, had no time to pay attention to these people and walked straight to the back office with a serious face.
At this time, a Yamen servant had already run to deliver the letter.
Xu Cunzhong came to the back door and rushed in without waiting for anyone to tell him.
As soon as he saw Guo Binchang, he took the lead and bowed and said, "I'd like to see you, County Magistrate Guo."
"Xu Qianhu came to see me in such a hurry, but what's the matter?" Guo Binchang said in a bad tone.
The county magistrate was very dissatisfied with Xu Cunzhong's intrusion without permission.
In any case, he is the county magistrate of Lingqiu. Even if Lingqiu guards come to see him, they have to be notified first, let alone just one thousand households.
Seeing that it was the messenger next to Liao Junyi, the commander of the camp, he immediately anticipated that something was going on and urged the war horse to walk towards the other side.
As the two sides approached, the rider said: "Deputy Du Yingzheng, Yingzheng ordered you to lead the army to Xinping Fort first. The artillery team of Hutou Village will meet you. This is the order."
As he spoke, he took out the warrant and handed it over.
